<p>D has always found Goucher attractive - - except for the lopsided boy/girl ration and all the distribution requirements (11 separate categories!!). Any suggestions for schools with a similar "feel" (lefty, hipster, social justice) and with similar selectivity?</p>
<p>Hampshire, Earlham and Guilford are already on D's list, and she has said "no" to Bennington (too remote, small, not much diversity). SLC is not really on her radar, but it's a reach, has the same lopsided ration and is probably just a hair too close to home.</p>
<p>Bard is a lot more selective than Goucher. My S and I just came back from Accepted Applicants Day at Goucher. Yes, there are alot of requirements, but there are many course selections and variables to fill those. The 1 to 9 student teacher ratio gives students alot of support in fufilling the requirements. The Boy-Girl thing obviously works for my S. Hampshire takes it to the opposite extreme. How about Clark University; another CTCL school.</p>
<p>Bard, Grinnell and Oberlin are far more selective than Goucher; I believe Beloit is also more selective, but closer to Goucher than the other three schools. Ditto New College oos.</p>
<p>D does not really want urban (didn’t like any of the schools in Boston). She is looking for a traditional residental experience, so Eugene Lang is out. </p>
<p>We plan to visit Clark, though it falls short in terms of the lefty/hipster vibe AND black enrollment that D is seeking. (Yes, I know that is one of the "schools w/ a conscience and yess, I know it enrolls lots of intl students - - that’s why it’s still under consideration despite a less than perfect fit.)</p>
<p>Dickinson and Denison? Lefty/hipster? Really?</p>
<p>“Goshen College is a national liberal arts college known for leadership in international education, service-learning and peace and justice issues in the Anabaptist-Mennonite tradition.” (Anabaptist-Mennonite:that’s like Amish people who go to college and drive cars, if that has any appeal.)</p>
<p>In an LA suburb Occidental College would likely not be too close to home, and sounds like it might meet the requirements. We visited in February and really liked it.</p>
<p>If your daughter likes Goucher, she might want to re-think her preconceptions about the requirements. The reality may be different from what she imagines (many of the requirements might be classes she would take anyway, depending on chosen major). Most kids imagine a high school version of requirements, which is not usually what college requirements are like. If she really likes Goucher otherwise, it doesn’t seem like a strong enough reason to rule it out.</p>
<p>Don’t know about Denison, but lefty/hipster was not my impression of Dickinson, not by a long shot. If I had to classify it, I’d say fratty.</p>
<p>I think you’ll find Clark pretty hip, and easier to get into than Bard, Grinnell, and Oberlin (although with Grinnell you’d have an easier time if you’re from the East).</p>
<p>Good luck, you’re looking at some fine, interesting schools.</p>
<p>My lefty boho daughter was accepted to Goucher, but is most likely going to Saint Michael’s College (smcvt.edu) in Burlington, VT. They do have distribution requirements, but it looks like they aren’t too overwhelming and major courses can fill quite a few of the requirements, as can other courses outside what you most typically would consider English, History, Science, etc.</p>
<p>Another school D very much wanted to apply to was Evergreen, in Washington State – but we ruled out any colleges west of the Mississippi.</p>
<p>My S and I also attended Accepted Applicants Day at Goucher – I haven’t read the whole course catalog, but I do know that in many cases one course will satisfy
two of those 11 requirements. The course catalog states that one course cannot satisfy more than two.</p>
<p>I, frankly, don’t like lots of liberal arts requirements too. Thus, I empathize with the OP.</p>
<p>You might want to consider University of Rochester. It has a beautiful campus. It isn’t too large a school, and it has one two required courses: English.</p>